Spring Morning (thing)

Where am I going? I don't quite know.
Down to the stream where the king-cups grow -
Up on the hill where the pine-trees blow -
Anywhere, anywhere, I don't know

Where am I going? The clouds sail by,
Little ones, baby ones, over the sky.
Where am I going? The shadows pass,
Little ones, baby ones, over the grass

If you were a cloud, and sailed up there,
You'd sail on water as blue as air,
And you'd see me here in the fields and say:
"Doesn't the sky look green today?"

Where am I going? The high rooks call:
"It's awful fun to be born at all."
Where am I going? The ring-doves coo:
"We do have beautiful things to do."

If you were a bird, and lived on high,
You'd lean on the wind when the wind came by,
You'd say to the wind when it took you away:
"That's where I wanted to go today!"

Where am I going? I don't quite know.
What does it matter where people go?
Down to the wood where the blue-bells grow -
Anywhere, anywhere. I don't know.

When I was a kid my Mom used to recite this poem over and over. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I realised she wasn’t just making it up, when I read it in a book. I was startled that it didn’t credit my Mom with writing it...

Actually, I was surprised that she’d read something in a book, remembered it, and now recited it to her kids. Having two kids of my own now, and not having memorized anything but the theme to Sponge Bob Square Pants, I recognise this as a feat.

I’m 27 now and many of the decisions I’ve made in my life have been made while the voice of my mother sang "Where am I going? I don’t quite know. What does it matter where people go?" in the back of my head. Specifically I remember that song playing in my head while I turned down my first job offer after finishing university. They came back to me with more money and I’ve been with the company for 511 years now.